Keeping it brief: The Saturdays play live in tiny shorts as Nicola Roberts overcomes her nerves to make solo stage debut

They've never been afraid of wearing skimpy outfits onstage - but The Saturdays outdid themselves on stage in Newcastle last night.

The girl group were sporting the tiniest Daisy Dukes as they played a short set at a gig thrown by the city's radio station, Metro Radio Live.

But not all of the girls thought the look was right for them. It seems that Rochelle Wiseman was not having one of her more confident days and instead opted for pale denim skintight jeans rather than the tiny cut-off denims her bandmates were wearing.

Scroll down to watch Nicola Roberts performing debut single Beat Of My Drum last night in Newcastle and see the official video...

Fierce: The Saturdays took to the stage in Newcastle last night in tiny shorts - apart from a more bashful Rochelle Wiseman, far
right, who wore skintight jeans

Work it: From left, Mollie King, Una Healy, Vanessa White, Frankie Sandford
and Rochelle were playing a short set at Metro Radio Live at Newcastle
Arena - an urban indoor one-day pop festival

However, one person who had most definitely overcome her nerves was Nicola Roberts, who made her live solo singing debut, just days after saying she was dreading going on stage without her Girls Aloud bandmates.

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Talking to MTV earlier this week, she'd revealed: 'I'm nervous and I'm dreading the night before. I know I'm going to be like losing half a stone in weight overnight, so I'm going to have to get myself into the zone.'

She added: 'There does feel like there is a little bit of extra pressure, because it is just me and it feels a little bit like, is that enough, is it enough to just look at that?'

Solo debut: Nicola Roberts overcame her nerves to play her first live gig without Girls Aloud in Newcastle

However, she seemed to quash her butterflies and impressed the crowd, singing debut solo single Beat Of My Drum in a tiny red and pink dress accessorised with a kooky headscarf and multicoloured strappy heels.

Other acts playing the bash included dubstep queen Katy B, Chipmunk, Sophie Ellis Bextor, The Feeling, The Wanted, rapper Example, hot new band The Overtones and Amy Winehouse's god-daughter Dionne Bromfield.

Meanwhile, Nicola has been explaining why she chose to take such a different direction musically with her new single.

On song: Frankie belts out one of The Saturday's singles wearing tight striped shorts and a blue top with a distressed denim top half, as Una sports ripped denim and a low cut purple top showing off her red bra

Working with hot underground music
producer Diplo, she explained: 'I tried to drum in to him that I wanted
these quirky dollops of sound like M.I.A. (who he's worked with before)
or Major Lazer (his Jamaican dancehall project).

'Don’t
try and make this record come back like a commercial, just-for-radio
song with 500 dance synths all over it ‘cause it’s not where I’m trying
to go.'

Scouse beauty Nicola also says she feels like she's unleashed her singing voice properly for the first time too.

Earning her stripes: Rochelle teamed her jeans with a leather jacket and a midriff-exposing tiger print top

Thighs the limit: Una strikes a pose at the Newcastle Arena in her tiny Daisy Duke cut-off denim hotpants

She said: 'I was sick to death of singing the quiet, whispery parts. I was like, no, f*** this, I’m going to sing!'

Talking to MTV, Nicola said it was
good that it was so different to Girls Aloud: 'It was important my first
single was different to anything else around.

'I love that it’s a song everyone can sing and dance along to.

Nicola Roberts will be releasing her debut album ‘Cinderella’s Eyes’ in October.

Back on the bill: Sophie Ellis Bextor wore a daring red minidress with high golden heels for her set

Meanwhile, the Daily Mirror is reporting that Girls Aloud are heading back into the studio in January.

But apparently, the girls are ditching their former producers, hitmakers Xenomania.

A
source said: 'At the moment the Girls are really excited about their
new beginning, although they are scratching their heads over who will
create signature hits for them.

'They’re excited they’re going to be making a fresh start together on this next adventure of their lives.

'In six months time it’ll be back to work as normal – they are itching to get back in the studio.'

Flower delivery! Nicola was handed a single red rose by a fan as she left Starbucks in Liverpool today after grabbing a coffee

Chic: The singer teamed her skintight jeans with a purple jacket and silver heels as she met with fans

The band are reportedly set to reform to celebrate their 10th anniversary next year at a special festival for the London 2012 Olympics at the O2 Arena.

Nicola though is onstage again for a hometown gig at Liverpool's Radio City Live tonight, before playing T4 On The Beach on 10 July.

Beat Of My Drum is then released on 18 July.

Meanwhile, MTV Music show On Set With Nicola Roberts is on at 2pm tomorrow.

Also on stage at the event was another singer known for her pale skinned look. Sophie Ellis Bexter appeared on the bill in a red thigh-length mini dress and gold heels as she promoted her new single, Starlight.

The next Metro Radio Live is on 7 July and will feature JLS and Olly Murs.

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The Saturdays play live in tiny shorts as Nicola Roberts makes solo onstage debut